What women want - November 2014

30 Oct 2014

It’s charity season again, designed presumably to appeal to us before we all spend too much on Christmas!

I’ve attended quite a few fundraisers in the last few weeks. I’ve mentioned I have my own business a few times in my columns to you, but I’m not sure I’ve ever really discussed it further – I have an events hire and styling business.

I actually started the company a week after my house burnt down whilst living in a hotel room, I borrowed a computer, registered Love and Protect (products you’ll love, that are safe and risk free!) and sourced the very best flameless candles in the world. I wasn’t going to risk another fire that was for sure!

Well in the last three years, it has moved from its initial trade sales of gorgeous wax pillar flameless candles for resorts, restaurants and venues and now includes a rental division for corporate events, Christmas parties, weddings and private parties who book literally hundreds of candles to create a magical evening. I love seeing how it has kind of taken a form of its own and, as a side-line business to my consulting work, I am amazed at how well it’s done!

Anyway, the point of this is that I am very grateful for working with such amazing events as Kardashian Kollection launch, Samantha Wills launches, Smooth FM events, Kate Ceberano album launch and the Spandeau Ballet concert next week to name but a few.

So I do always try to support charity, and give back a little - and over the last three years (since the business started) I have donated my styling services and provided our gorgeous candles to help Variety Children’s Charity, Red Kite, McGrath Foundation, The Hospital Foundation and many more to help create a really special event for their fundraising.

With each event attracting over 500 guests, it really is a large-scale set up, with a massive purpose to raise literally hundreds of thousands of dollars. The gowns of the ladies that waltz in on the arms of equally dashing men, you’d think you were nestled in the most elite crowd of incredible wealth.

You know what? As I speak to more and more people, it is mind-blowing how many of them are not high-net worth individuals, but people who care and believe in a cause and choose to make it a celebratory night out – one they dress up for, drink champagne and dance – and give the most incredible donations to help these charities function.

It is incredibly moving to watch people simply pledge donations, hands going up table by table to pledge money raising over $65,000 in five minutes. That’s before the auctions, before people are actually bidding on something that they will take home. It is selfless donating at its very best.

It is definitely a lot of work, but being someone who is not incredibly wealthy, it is a way that I can make a contribution. I would like to think that we all could do something for charity, for a cause that we believe in, whichever one it may be. I would very much like to ask you to be conscious of that, in the coming months in the lead up to Christmas – it feels wonderful to give and it’s something we should all feel proud to do.

I know I have contributed to creating events where people have donated literally millions of dollars over the years. If you, like so many of us, can’t financially make a donation, perhaps there is a way you can contribute – your time, your expertise, your products – and make a difference to the people who live amongst us who are in need.